How to Spot Myopia in a Kid

Up to 30 percent of the population suffers from myopia, more commonly known as nearsightedness. With myopia, people can see close things clearly, but have trouble seeing things at a distance. Myopia often appears during childhood when the eyes are still developing, just like the rest of the body. Follow these steps to spot myopia in a kid.

Instructions

• 1

  Watch for squinting. While a kid with myopia sees close objects easily, she may squint when trying to see things in the distance. Some children even pull at the outer corner of the eye in an effort to see better.

• 2

  Ask your child or your child's teacher if he has trouble seeing the blackboard in the classroom. Nearsighted kids can't see the board from the back part of the classroom.

• 3

  Look for fatigue in kids who engage in activities like sports that can be demanding on the eyes.

• 4

  Pay attention to where your child sits when watching television. If you're constantly telling a child to move back from the TV screen, it could be because she can't see the screen well.

• 5

  Keep a record of your child's headaches if you notice an increase. Look at what activities the child was doing in the hours before the headache struck. Headaches come from a variety of reasons; one is due to eyestrain experienced by nearsighted people.

• 6

  Think about your family history. Myopia can be hereditary. If there are other nearsighted people in the family, your child's chances of getting myopia increase.

• 7

  Understand that some experts believe that myopia comes from early visual experiences that affect the development of the eye. One of these experiences could be too much close vision work.